Sweet potato casserole and sweet potato pie | Recipe perfection

A good sweet potato pie is not the same as a sweet potato casserole. Image: Flickr / foodista / CC-BY

The Thanksgiving table often includes quite a few basics. The sweet potato casserole vs. sweet potato pie recipe debate is one that has been wide-ranging. The secret to tasty sweet potato recipes is to get the right tuber mixed with the right supporting cast.

The basics of sweet potato recipes

A sweet potato recipe will sometimes use the term “yam” interchangeably. In fact, Grandma’s recipe book probably includes a recipe for “Thanksgiving yams.” A yam, however, is not the same as a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are the traditional southern tuber used in Thanksgiving recipes. Yams are becoming more available in the United States, but be sure you intend to use them if that is what you buy. A yam is actually an African vegetable that looks, tastes and cooks differently than a sweet potato.

Sweet potato casserole recipe

A classic sweet potato casserole recipe usually mashes the sweet potatoes up with butter and brown sugar, then tops them with marshmallows. This recipe results in a cloyingly sweet dish that is more suited for dessert than a side dish. Instead, try steaming 1 pound peeled sweet potatoes, then mashing them together with just 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. If you feel like the marshmallow crust is an absolute necessity, try sprinkling the marshmallows with a little kosher salt before you put it in a 300 degree oven for 20 minutes.